Foaming compositions



United States Patent O FQAMING coMPosmoNs Rupert C. Morris, Berkeley, and Webster M. Sawyer,

Orinda, Califi, assignors to Shell Development Company, Emeryville, Califi, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application April 5, 1951, Serial No. 219,504

14 Claims. (Cl. 252-117) This invention relates to the improvement of the foaming properties of solutions of surface-active agents, including Washing and cleaning agents and the like, and to new compositions having these improved properties.

While solutions of fatty acid soaps foam readily in soft water and give quite stable foams, there are many occasions on which it would be desirable to have more copious foam of greater stability. This is true, for example, in the preparation of fire-fighting foams and, indeed, in most uses of fatty acid soaps in hard water. The synthetic detergents which are resistant to hard water are generally deficient in foaming properties, particularly in respect to the quality and stability of their foam.

It has been proposed to overcome the deficiency of these surface-active agents by the addition of various cornpounds. Thus, albuminous materials derived from pro:

teins, amine soaps of fatty acids and the like have been frequently suggested as desirable additives for fatty acid soaps in fire-fighting foam compositions, while higher alcohols, certain amides and fatty acid esters have been advanced as useful additives for synthetic detergents of certain types. An important object is to provide advantageous combinations of surface-active compounds with more desirable additives which impart superior foaming properties to the new compositions of the invention. A further object is the provision of detergent compositions of improved quality, and a special object is to provide washing and cleaning compositions based upon synthetic detergents which give a copious, long-lasting foam not obtainable with the detergent alone. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

It has been found, in accordance with the present invention, that the foaming properties of surface-active agents in aqueous media can be materially improved by the addition of certain substituted sulfones. These sulfone compounds are those having in the molecule a hydrophobic chain containing about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an imido carbonyl group I II to which is attached, through not more than 4 intervening carbon atoms, a sulfone group directly linked to 2 carbon atoms. The R in the indicated imido carbonyl group may be a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon radical. The sulfone compound used may contain more than one imido, carbonyl and sulfone groups in the molecule but it is essential that at least one sulfone group of the type be present in combination with an imido carbonyl group as above described in order to obtain the advantages of the invention.

The sulfone compounds which are essential components 2,743,236 Patented Apr. 24, 1956 wherein R and R represent hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical, R represents a hydrocarbon radical, R represents a hydrocarbon radical linking the sulfone group --SO2 to the carbonyl carbon atom by a chain of not more than 4 carbon atoms, and n is an integer which may be zero or one. At least one of the radicals R and R is a hydrocarbon radical containing a chain of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, most preferably a straight or only slightly branched chain of 10 to 16 carbon atoms. Preferred compounds of this type are saturated amides of sulfonesubstituted carboxylic acids.

One suitable method of preparing sulfone compounds of this type is by oxidation with nitric acid, for example, of the corresponding thioether-substituted carboxylic acids, which may be conveniently formed by addition of a mercaptan to an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and reaction of the sulfone-substituted carboxylic acid produced by the oxidation with a suitable amine. A typical synthesis of this type is the preparation of N-myristyl beta- (methyl sulfonyl)propionamide from acrylic acid, methyl mercaptan and lauryl amine in accordance with the following equations The first step in this synthesis, namely, adding a mercaptan to the starting olefinic compound, can be carried out in accordance with the methods of the following references to this type of reaction: Annual Reports of the Chemical Society (London), 1905, page J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 60, pages 2452 and 2731 (1938), and vol. 61, page 70 (1939). The second step of oxidizing the sulfide to sulfone is a reaction described, for example, in J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 63, page 2941 (1941), vol. 68, page 973 (1946), vol. 70, page 3848 (1948), and vol. 72, pages 59 and 2858 (1950). The final step of producing the amide by reacting the carboxylic acid with an amine is a reaction described in J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 53, page 1879 (1931) and vol. 59, page 401 (1937), and in J. Org. Chem., vol. 8, page 473 (1943). Other sulfone-substituted carboxylic acid amides of this type which are effective foam-improving additives for detergents are:

N-lauryl'alpha-(methyl sulfonyl) ncetamide O O CH::'

alpha (methylsulfonyl) acetic N methyl V pa'lmitamide Cyclic as well as open chain sulfone-substituted amides of this type are elfective additives in acc'ordancewith the invention. f'Ihese cyclic sulfone compounds correspond to those of the foregoing general formula in which, R

represents a divalent'hydrocarbon radical directly connected to R or those whereincR represents a divalent group are, for instance: a V

CmHa1(|3H--CH O 3 decyl-o-sulfolanylcarboxamide OH5-OH; o V (3H1 OHG NH'(CH:)11CHQ 0 N-lauryl 2-sultolanyl carboxa rnid O CH: NH-(J Cg: oHP'wHow-oH- mLs o o I 2- l-methylhexadecyl) -5-keto-thiamorphanne l-dioxide O GET-CH1 CHa(CHz)1r-' -C NH CHr-C a beta-(lauryl sulfonyl valerolactarn pounds used to improve the foam properties of surfaceactive agents may contain a plurality of carbonyl and/ or imido groups. Included among the useful amides of sultone-substituted carboxylic acids of this type are, for

example 1-beta-methylsulfonylpropionyl)P3-octadecy1 urea O I 1-(S-sulfolzinylcarboiyl)-3-hexadecy1 urea.

The second important type of sulfone-substituted compounds which has been found to beespecially effective in :increasing the volume and stability of the foam of aqueous solutions of surface-active compounds is that comprising the amides of sulfone-substituted amines which may be represented by the general formula:

wherein R and R represent hydrocarbon radicals, at

least one of which contains a chain ofo8 to l8.carbon atoms, preferably a substantially straight chain of 10 to carbonyl groupby a chain of not more than 4 carbon how these reactions can be carried out.

atoms. Asis also the case with thearnides of sulfonesubstituted carboxylic acids previously described, the preferred sulfone-substituted compounds are saturated sulfone subStituted amides having a total of 11 to about 30 carbon atomsper molecule. I

Sulfone s'ubstituted amines which maybe usedas starting materials-for the preparation of useful additives in' accordance with the invention are'readily produced,for example, from olefinic amines by addition of a mercaptan andoxidation of the sulfide sulfur atoms iof'grejsulting, product. These operations can be carried out as described in the journal articles previously referred to as showing Reaction of hydroxy sulfides such, for example, as Z-(methylmercapto)-ethanol with ammonia to replace the hydroxyl group by NH2 andconversion of the resulting amine to the corresponding amide of a suitable, carboxylic acid, followed by oxidation with nitric acid or hydrogen peroxide, is another suitable method of synthesizing sulfonesubstituted amides which are desirable additives. The replacement of the hydroxyl'group by -'NH-z is described,

for example, in the text of Rodd Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, volume I page 381,'and the journal articles there mentioned, for instance, V. Merz, Berichte, vol. 17, page 623' (1884 ),and Sabatier, Compt. rend., vol. '148, page 898 (1909). The succeed ng steps of converting the amineto an amide and oxidationaof the sulfide groupto sulfone can be conducted asidescribedin J. Org. Chem,

, c vol. 8, page 473 (1943), or I; Chem. Soc vol. 59, 7

As previously pointed out, the sulfone-substituted 'compage 401 (1937), and J. Am. Chem. Soc, vol. 68, page 973 (1946) and Vol.70, page'3848 (1948), for instance.

Typical amides of sulfone-substituted amines which are advantageous inimproving foaming properties in aecordancewith the invention are, foroinstance: 'j

2-(n1ethy1 sulfonyl) ethyl N-methyl capramide Cyclic su1f0ne-substituted amides corresponding. to the generalformula' Y 7 V R V V n -N-R-S or-m i 'and'the like 4-hendecanoyl thiamorpholine-l-dioxide CHrCHz CHr-Q-C CH(CH2)nCHt NH (I;

alpha-dodecyl-delta-(methyl sulfonyl) valerolactam delta-(luuryl sulfonyl) valerolactam Especially suitable are-the amides of amino cyclic sulfones. These correspond to the above general formula when R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical linked directly to R. U. S. Patent 2,435,071 discloses and claims one type of sulfone compounds of this class which is eminently suitable provided a hydrocarbon radical, preferably an alkyl radical, of 8 to 18, most preferably 10 to 16, carbon atoms is present in the molecule.

N- (2-sulfolany1) myristamide CH3(CH2)1ICHCH-NH-l-CH: (1H2 (IJHQ N-(3-dodecy1-4-sulfolanyl) acetamide are typical of these preferred additives. However, other cyclic sulfone amides such as o /QHr-CH2 H CHNHC--(CH2)HCH3 '0? om-o i N-(4-thianyl- 1-dioxide) palmitamide etc. are. also useful as additives for surface-active comhas'been'emphasized in the foregoing, it will be understood that mixtures of two or more such compounds are equally useful. Thus, a sulfone-substituted amine may be reacted with a mixture of suitable carboxylic acids, for instance, the mixed acids derived from animal or vegetable oils, fats or waxes, or a mixture of sulfone-substituted amines may be similarly. reacted with one or more carboxylic acids to obtain a mixture of sulfone-substituted amides which are useful in the invention. Likewise a single amine or a mixture of such amines may be amidified with a plurality of sulfone-substituted carboxylic acids to obtain a mixture of sulfone-substituted amides which are effective foam-improving agents. Similarly, the amides of sulfone-substituted amines and sulfone-substituted carboxylic acids are useful additives for use in the invention. Suitable compounds of this type are, for instance:

o o CH9 -OH2- -NHCH2%-(CH2)17OHB N-nctadecyl sulfonylmethyl methylsulfonyl acctamide A t... H.

N-(S-sulfolanyl) hexadecyl sulfonyl acetamide It is also possible to use mixtures of preformed sulfonesubstituted amides of the different types which have been described.

The amount of sulfone-substituted amide which it will be desirable to use in a given case will depend upon the particular sulfone-substituted amide or mixture of such amides which is chosen, the surface-active agent with which it is to be used and the intended use to which the mixture is to be applied. However, as a general rule, amounts between about 1% and 50% by weight of the surface-active agent present are suitable, and amounts between about 5% and about 30% are often most advantageous.

As previously indicated,'the sulfone-substituted amides are effective in improving the foaming properties of a wide variety of surface-active salts of organic acids. The generally used surface-active organic acid salts are watersoluble salts of carboxylic, sulfonic, phosphoric and like acids and of sulfonic acid esters having a hydrocarbon chain of at least 8 carbon atoms in the molecule. Mixtures of two or more of these surface-active organic acid salts of the same or of different types may be used in the new compositions. Preferred organic acid salts are the alkali metal, e. g. sodium and potassium, or ammonium or amine, particularly the alkylolamine, salts.

Synthetic detergents are the especially preferred type of soap used in the new compositions because of the outstanding improvement obtained by the addition of the described sulfone-substituted amides to these compounds. The sulfonates, i. e. the salts of organic acids having a 4O3H group which may be linked directly, or through an oxygen atom as in the sulfuric acid esters, to a hydrophilic group, are the preferred sub-group of synthetic detergents used in the invention. Among the salts of organic sulfonic acids which can be improved substantially in foaming properties are the salts of alkyl aryl sulfonic acids. Examples of sulfonates of this type which have been successfully used are salts, particularly the alkali metal salts, of sulfonic acids such as are obtained by alkylating an aromatic hydrocarbon of the benzene series, particularly benzene or toluene, with an alkylating agent having preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule such as an olefin, an olefin polymer or an alkyl halide, and converting the alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon thus formed into the corresponding monosulfonic acid which is'then neutralized. U. S. Patents 2,467,130-32 and 2,477,383,

7 7 for example, describe alkyl aryl sulfonate salts which can ire-used, as can the .keryl benzene, toluene, etc., sulfonates 'described:in U.-S. Patent 2,340,654, for instance. Instead Y carbon atoms as Ethe hydrophobic group :of the detergent -of .alkyl aryl-sulfonate salts, 'alkyl sulfonic acid salts such as-are obtainable by the methods of U. S. Patents 2,263,312 .and 2,276,090,for example, areoperative in the new compositions of :the invention.

ticularly the sodium salts'of secondary. alkyl sulfuric acid esters of 8 to 18 carbon atoms obtained from predominantly normal, terminally unsaturated mono-olefins such as can be obtained by cracking parafiin wax as described in U. S. Patent 2,152,297.

Particularly desirable alkyl, ."sulfonic acidisalts are the 2-alkyl sodium sulfonates hav preferably; amides having ahydrophobicchain of about t -carbon atoms less'toabout number of are. used. Where mixtures of.detcrgents .and/ or additives are being used, .the average chain lengths ould pr'ofera ably. have this relation toieach other.

The chosen sulfone substituted amide 'o'rf inixturethere:

of may beincor'poratcd in the detergentin a. number of I different 'ways. {The "detergent and additive may he mixed at the time of use or they may bepremixed before I It is, often convenient to incorporate the additive The-sulfonesubuse. during manufacture of'the detergent. stituted amide'may.be .mechanically mixed into thedry detergent or into a slurry thereof, oritmay he added to an aqueous solution of the sulfonic acid or acid sulfate before the neutralization-step in the process of produc ing detergents of these typcs.-'--- The alkali metal salts of sulfuric acid esters of normal primary aliphatic alcohols such as may be obtained by hydrogenation of fatty oils i such, for instance, .as coconut, babassu, palm kernel, etc.,

oil or of sperm oil alcohols and the like, are other examples of detergents which are materially improved by the sulfone-substitut'ed amides described. a

While hydrocarbon sulfonate salts such as described above are a preferred type of synthetic detergent for use in the new compositions, improvement in foaming properties can also be obtained with-substituted hydrocarbon sulfonat e salts containing, for example, halogen, ether oxygengcarbonylcarboxyl, and like atoms or groups. Thus, water-soluble salts of sulfuric acid esters of hydroxy ethers of higher molecular alcohols such as the sodium sulfates of monoor' di-ethylene glycol mono-myristyl ether, or

salts of carboXylic-acid esters of hydroxy alkyl acid sul;

fates of which glycerinemonolaurate monosodium sulfate and-ethylene glycol monostearate monosodium sulfate are examples, are included amongthe sulfonate saltdetergents which are benefitedfby the addition of a sulfonesubstituted amide. salts of sulfated carboxylic acid alkylolamides'having detergent properties of which the coconut oil fatty acid ethanolamide sodiurnsulfates are representative. Corresponding detergents having a true'sulfonic acid group in place of the sulfuric acid groupv of the foregoing compounds are likewise improved in foaming properties.

, Thesedetergents inclnde,--for instance, the others oflong "chain alcohols with lower molecular hydroxy sulfonic acid salts such as thedodecyl ether of is'ethionic acid sodium =salt,-etc.,'the water-soluble salts of sulfonic-acid-c'ontainingcarboxylic acid esters, e. g., salts of sulfoacetic acid esters and-alcohols Of-S to 20 carbon atoms and salts of higher fatty acids with hydroxy sulfonic acids such as -isethionicjaoid, and salts of amides of amino sulfonic -acids,-such as'N-methyl taurine, with higher fattyacids This is also true of the water-soluble The following examples illustrate some typical appli cations of the inventionand show some-of its advantages. Foam tests were carried out with N-(3-sulfolanyl) lauramide; as additive in a number of synthetic detergents of difierent types'built with sodium'tripolyphosphate and sodium sulfate so that the active detergentiingredient content was 1 8% by weight. seconds shaking in a mechanical shaking machine which insured reproducible results and in the presence of standard soil cloth. A 0.4% solution. ofidetergent (total solids'basis) in'-hard:-water"(350 p/pL m..of cal cium as calcium carbonate) at 55 C. was used.

Amount of Foam vVolume, mi.

Sulfone- Substitilted D e e I Am Based on Initial Alter After the'hctive 7 10 Min. 20 De e Content 7 Percent V I None 79. 8 38. 7 l8. Sodiumdodecyl benzene sulio- 5 81.5 56.0 29. hate from propylic totramor 11 a 82.0 63.0' 130. benzene '16. 5 86.0 70.0 41. V 22 87.0 70. 7 48.

Sodium secondary alkyl sulfates from cracked wax olefins 0t 10 None 62. 7 45.7 26. to 18 carbon atoms sold under ,22 77.0 75. O 58. trademarkTeepol" Sodium 2-norma1. tetradecane None 72. 8 a 39. 1 16. sulionateflfl; .V.. 22 79. 5 76. 5 56. Msgnefisiurbnzg odectyl beiixllzcrfusulg e1 0 en None '86 s 51 a 21 o content (built with magnesium 1 sutlfate in place or sodium sul- 23 7 a e .Q 0. i

and the like. Instead of the foregoing sulfuric acid de- 7 rivatives, the corresponding esters of phosphorus acids,

parti'cularly the'phosphate and phosphite esters, may-be 'usc'd'in the new compositions of the invention.

' While the most pronounced improvement in' foam prop- 'erties have been obtained with the synthetic detergents whichhave been described, the sulfone-substituted amides are also useful additives for fatty'acid soaps and the like,

particularly where such soaps are used'in hard Water. Any of'the water-soluble soaps from tallow, lard, fish fatty acids maybe thus used.

oil, palm oil, :corn oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and .like

, 'In choosing. :the particular,sulfone-substituted amideto berused in a;given;case, accountshouldbe taken-of the 'chain length-of the detergent Withwhich it is to be employed, it being preferable to use sulfone-substituted amides'having hydrophobic groups no longer than, the hydrophobicgroup ,of the detergent involved. ,Most

Dodecyl benzene magnesiu'm sulfonate 18 NasPaOio 24 Na4PaO'z l 24 -N-(3-sulfolanyl) lauramide :0 ms MgSO4 and NazSO4 Remainder h f0 l ins e u r =typi ai rd tetsqn la o u m Similar good results are obtained when N-. (3-sulfolanyl) myristamide, N-(Z-methylsulfonyl ethyl) capramide, N- (2-dodecylsulfonyl ethyl) acetamide, beta:

methylsulfonyl propionic :lauramide, or other of the sulfone-substituted amides previously named are substituted for the N-(S-sufolanyl) lauramide.

The effect of various amounts of sulfone-subs titutedamide additiveon the foaming properties in soft and zene' magnesium sulfonatederived from propylene tetramer benzcneialkylate, .builtaccording to the following i a formula, as detergent-.'

Percent by weight The tests were made with of 0.2% concentration at 55 C. in the presence of soil cloth:

Hard Water (325 p. p. m. Ca)

Soft Water (30 p. p. in. Ca)

Percent Sulfone-SubstltutedLauramideadditive. 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 Foam Volume, ml:

Initial Final (20 min.)

These results may be contrasted with those obtained when amides which do not contain a sulfonic group linked to the imido carbonyl group by a chain of not more than 4 carbon atoms are used. Examples of such amides are, for instance, caprylamide, dimethyl lauramide, lauramide, stearamide, lauryl lauramide, butyl capramide, dibutyl myristamide and N-lauroyl' morpholine which, when added to the foregoing synthetic deter-- gents under the same conditions, produce little or no improvement in the final foam volume or the foam stability. The results of representative machine shaking tests carried out as described above using propylene tetramer benzene sodium sulfonate as the detergent, and caprylamide and lauramide as examples of amide additives without the desired sulfone group, are as follows when 22% by weight of additive based on the active detergent content is employed:

Foam Volume, ml.

Additive Aft Aft er er Min. Min.

None 79. 8 38. 7 18. 4 Lauramlde 78. 0 45. 0 27.0 Caprylamide 75. 0 38. 0 15. 0

The sulfone-substituted amide additives of the invention produce their remarkable improvement in foam prop- I erties without any undesirable effects upon the other ad- Relative Detergeney at a. lgetergent Concentration Without additive 18. 5 52. 5 57. 5 With 4% of additive 31. 6 55. 0 60.0

It will thus be seen that the invention oifers many advantages and is capable of wide application not only in respect to the detergents which can be employed and the sulfone-substituted amides which can be used therewith, but also in regard to the method of application of the new compositions. The new compositions are not only effective alone but can be used advantageously in combination with other materials. Any of the usual soap additives, including bleaching agents, perfumes, dyes, builders such as trisodium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, carboxymethyl cellulose, etc., may be included, as may any of the customary materials used in preparing emulsions and the like. It will therefore be understood that the invention is not restricted to the compositions given by way 10 of illustration nor by any theory proposed in explanation of the improved results which are obtained.

We claim as our invention:

1. A surface-active composition having improved foaming properties in aqueous solution which comprises anionic detergent of the group consisting of water-soluble fatty acid soap and water-soluble synthetic organic sulfonated and sulfated detergents, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of the detergent of sulfonesubstituted carboxylic acid amide having the sulfone group linked to the imido carbonyl group no III wherein R is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon radicals having not more than 18 carbon atoms) by a chain of not more than 4 carbon atoms and containing a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

2. A surface-active composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sulfone-substituted amide is an amide of a sulfone-substituted saturated carboxylic acid.

3. A surface-active composition which comprises an anionic detergent of the group consisting of the watersoluble fatty acid soap and water-soluble synthetic organic sulfonated and sulfated detergents, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of the detergent of N- (sulfolanyl) lauramide.

4. A detergent comprising an intimate mixture of at least one anionic water-soluble surface-active synthetic organic sulfonated salt detergent, together with 1% to 50% -by weight of said surface-active salt detergent of saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid amide having a sulfone group linked to an imido carbonyl group R0 Ill wherein R is a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon radicals having not more than 18 carbon atoms) by a hydrocarbon chain of not more than 4 carbon atoms and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 8 to 18 carbon atoms which is not longer than the hydrophobic group of said synthetic organic sulfonated salt detergent.

5. A detergent comprising a mixture of at least one anionic water-soluble sulfonate salt detergent, together with about 5% to 30% by weight of said sulfonate salt detergent of a N-(sulfolanyl) amide ot' a saturated carboxylic acid having 10 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule.

6. A detergent comprising an intimate mixture of at least one anionic water-soluble alkyl aryl sulfonic salt detergent having an alkyl group of 10 to 16 carbon atoms, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of said anionic water-soluble salt of a substituted sulfone having in the molecule a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an imido carbonyl group wherein R represents a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon radicals having not more than 18 carbon atoms) to which is attached through not more than four intervening carbon atoms a sulfone group directly linked to two carbon atoms.

7. A detergent in accordance with claim 6 wherein the sulfone-substituted amide is an amide of a sulfone-substituted saturated carboxylic acid.

8. A detergent comprising an intimate mixture of at least one anionic water-soluble salt of an alkyl aryl sulfonic acid having an alkyl group of 10 to 16 carbon atoms, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of said sulfonate of an amide of a higher fatty acid containing a hydrocarbon radical of 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an being linked to the imido carbonylgroup wherein R represents a member of the group consisting of the hydrogen atom and hydrocarcon radicals having not more than 18 carbon atoms) to which is attached through not more than four intervening carbon atoms a sulfone group directly linked to two carbon atoms.

9."A surface-active Composition which comprises an anionic water-soluble, surface-active alkyl aryl sulfonate salt detergent, together with'about 1% to about 50% by weight of the detergent of anN-(sulfolanyl) amide of a saturated carboxylic acid, which acid contains 10't0 16 carbon atoms per molecule.

'10. A deter' gent in accordance with claim 4 wherein the surfaceractive organic acid aalt detergent is alkyl sulfonate salt detergent and the sulfone group-containing amide is an amide of an amino cyclic sulfone.

11. A surface-active composition having improved foaming properties which comprises an anionic watersoluble synthetic organic sulfateddetergent, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of the detergent of anamide of a sulfone-substituted amine and a saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid, which acid contains a hydrophobic radical of 8m 18 carbon atoms, the 'sulfone group i if V (.t.N.=C wherein R represents a member ot the group consisting of the hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon radicals having Q than 4 carbon atoms.

' sulfone-substituted carboxylieacid amide having the sul carbon atoms. 7 F

not more-than 18-darhnnjatoms) by a chain of not 1 2- An rface-act ve composi wh ch wrnpri eaan anionic. water-soluble, surta'ce-active aikyl sulfate salt detergent, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of the detergent of anN-(sulfolanyl) amide of a saturated carhoxylic acid having an alkyl radical oft 8 to 18 133A surface-active composition having improved foaming properties'in aqueous solution which comprises Water-soluble fatty acid soap detergent, together with about 1% to about 50% by weight of the detergent of toxic group linkedto theiinido carbonyl group a V c R o I II V o 1 (N.C; I wherein R is aimember of the group eonsisting of the hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon radicals having not more than '18 carbon atoms) by a .chain'of not more than '4 carbon atoms and containing a 'sa turated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 8 to 18 carbon'atoms.

1.4: A surface-active composition-in accordance with claim :13 wherein the sulfoneasubstituted amide is N-.(sulfolanyl) 'saturatedfatt-y acid amide having '10 to 16 carhon atoms in the fatty acid radical. J

Gunther Oct. 24, 1933 Albrecht a Dec. 16, 1947 

1. A SURFACE-ACTIVE COMPOSITION HAVING IMPROVED FOAMING PROPERTIES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION WHICH COMPRISES ANIONIC DETERGENT OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF WATER-SOLUBLE FATTY ACID SOAP AND WATER-SOLUBLE SYNTHETIC ORGANIC SULFONATED AND SULFATED DETERGENTS, TOGETHER WITH ABOUT 1% TO ABOUT 50% BY WEIGHT OF THE DETERGENT OF SULFONESUBSTITUTED CARBOXYLIC ACID AMIDE HAVING THE SULFONE GROUP LINKED TO THE IMIDO CARBONYL GROUP 